Method and apparatus for spinal fixation
First Claim
1. A connector for connecting spinal fixation components to a spinal rod, comprising:
- a lower section, the lower section comprising a first arm and a second arm that form an opening for receiving the spinal rod, and wherein portions of surfaces of the first arm and the second arm that define the opening comprise non-threaded, textured surfaces configured to have large coefficients of friction with respect to the spinal rod;
an upper section, the upper section defining a slot communicating with the opening in the lower section, wherein the slot terminates in an enlarged opening in the upper section; and
wherein the arms are deflectable to cause widening of a portion of the slot and widening of a width of the opening to allow the spinal rod to be placed into the opening, and wherein the arms are deflectable to cause narrowing of a portion of the slot and narrowing of the width of the opening to allow for frictional engagement of the spinal rod by the non-threaded, textured surfaces of the first arm and second arm during use to inhibit movement of the connector with respect to the spinal rod.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A spinal fixation implant system for correction and fixation of the human spine to facilitate an anatomically correct fusion. The spinal fixation system may include a connector, a spinal rod, a spinal fixation component, a sleeve, and a fastener. The spinal fixation component preferably includes a fixation device such as a hook or screw for securing the spinal rod to vertebrae of the thoracic or lumbar spine. The spinal fixation component preferably includes a threaded end on its top that is adapted to receive the fastener. The fixation component may include a body having a tapered cavity for engaging the receiving end of the connector. Tightening of the fastener preferably downwardly translates the sleeve over the fixation component body to force the connector through the tapered cavity, which compresses the receiving end about the spinal rod to fixably connect the spinal rod and the spinal fixation component. In an alternate embodiment, assembly pliers may be used to move the connector into the tapered cavity. The fixation component may also include a rotatable fixation member. The spinal rod and connector may include a textured surface to inhibit movement of the connector with respect to the spinal rod. The fastener may be a clip configured to engage an indentation formed in the connector to secure the connector within the fixation component. The connector may include a tab which is configured to interact with a channel formed in the cavity to inhibit the removal of the connector from the cavity.
705 Citations
79 Claims
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1. A connector for connecting spinal fixation components to a spinal rod, comprising:
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a lower section, the lower section comprising a first arm and a second arm that form an opening for receiving the spinal rod, and wherein portions of surfaces of the first arm and the second arm that define the opening comprise non-threaded, textured surfaces configured to have large coefficients of friction with respect to the spinal rod;
an upper section, the upper section defining a slot communicating with the opening in the lower section, wherein the slot terminates in an enlarged opening in the upper section; and
wherein the arms are deflectable to cause widening of a portion of the slot and widening of a width of the opening to allow the spinal rod to be placed into the opening, and wherein the arms are deflectable to cause narrowing of a portion of the slot and narrowing of the width of the opening to allow for frictional engagement of the spinal rod by the non-threaded, textured surfaces of the first arm and second arm during use to inhibit movement of the connector with respect to the spinal rod. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A connector for attaching spinal fixation components to a spinal rod, comprising:
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an upper section;
a first arm extending from the upper section, the first arm comprising a non-threaded, textured surface configured to frictionally engage an outer surface of the spinal rod;
a second arm extending from the upper section, the second arm comprising a surface configured to engage the outer surface of the spinal rod;
a slot in the upper section between the first arm and second arm, the slot extending to a bottom of the upper section and terminating in an enlarged opening in the bottom of the upper section; and
an opening between the surface of the first arm and the surface of the second arm, the opening configured to receive the spinal rod, wherein the first arm and second arm are deflectable to cause the slot to narrow, which fixes the spinal rod within the opening during use. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A connector for attaching spinal fixation components to a spinal rod, comprising:
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a body;
an opening through the body defining a surface;
non-threaded texturing on a portion of the surface that forms a non-threaded textured surface, the non-threaded textured surface configured to frictionally engage a spinal rod during use to inhibit movement of the spinal rod relative to the body; and
a longitudinal slot in the body, wherein a first end of the slot is in communication with the opening through the body and a second end of the slot terminates in an enlarged second opening, wherein narrowing the slot fixes a spinal rod positioned within the opening to the connector, and wherein widening the slot allows the spinal rod positioned within the opening to be removed from the opening. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76)
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77. A connector for attaching spinal fixation components to a spinal rod, comprising:
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a body;
an opening through the body defining a surface;
texturing on a portion of the surface that forms a textured surface, the textured surface configured to frictionally engage a spinal rod during use to inhibit movement of the spinal rod relative to the body;
a longitudinal slot in the body in communication with the opening, wherein narrowing the slot fixes a spinal rod positioned within the opening to the connector, and wherein widening the slot allows the spinal rod positioned within the opening to be removed from the opening;
a pair of tapered sides, wherein at least a portion of outer surfaces of the pair of sides comprises texturing; and
at least one indentation in the body configured to accept a clip that couples the connector to a fixation component. - View Dependent Claims (78, 79)
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Specification